Welcome to the Railway Division North Western Centre

The North Western Centre of the Railway Division of the IMechE is the learned society for joined up railway engineering and bases its activities in Manchester and the surrounding area, drawing on and fostering links with local industry, train operators, academic institutions and sister professional organisations, including the ICE, IET, IRSE and PWI. We are committed to providing support for members of the Railway Division in this region mainly through a programme of interesting and informative lectures and through this and other activities we aim to provide members with the skills, knowledge, support and development advice they need at every stage of their career.

Lectures on a variety of topics are normally given on the 2nd Tuesday in the month (but please check the Events Diary below for details) at 18:30 (sandwiches available from 18:00) at Manchester Metropolitan University on Oxford Road (close to Oxford Road railway station) in the centre of Manchester. We also have an annual Young Members’ evening at which younger Engineers present papers on current projects and the Railway Division Chairman’s Address usually takes place at the October event. The December lecture traditionally features an item on the engineering heritage aspect of the railway.

The Railway Division Chair, Richard McClean, will consider the role of engineering and engineers in contributing to the future railway industry in a complex and changing world. He will set out what the broader economy and society requires of the rail sector and what rail can offer back. The address will highlight what the rail industry needs to do to become more attractive as a career choice for new generations of engineers and what the Railway Division should focus on to support this.

Since October 2015, work has been taking place on the Ordsall Chord. This section of new track will create a link between Manchester city centre’s main train stations for the first time. Graham Gornall will explain the background to the project and will discuss the range of complex works that have had to be completed and the challenges that have been faced.

The Gresley class P2 2-8-2 ‘Mikados’ were the most powerful express passenger locomotives to operate in the UK. The builders of the new main line steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado, have set themselves the challenge to develop, build and operate an improved Gresley class P2 Mikado steam locomotive for main line and preserved railway use. David Elliott will explain the background to the project and what progress has been made so far.

On 29th June 2017 Alstom’s Widnes centre for train modernisation was opened by Lord Prior of Brampton. In a major boost to the rail industry in the North West, this 13,000 square metre facility will be the largest of its type in the UK. Alstom is starting work on the contract to re-paint the 56-strong fleet of Class 390 Pendolino trains and Mike Hulme will describe the project to bring the new facility to the North West and provide an outline of the painting programme.

Project Team Engineer Magda Olczak, from Loram UK (formerly RVEL), will be presenting how her team has been developing the upgrade to the Class 73 in Derby to make these already useful locomotives suitable for 21st century traction requirements. Magda will review the design, build and testing processes, focusing on the challenges the team has met along the way and the lessons learnt.